Mahama Urges African Countries to Rekindle the Flame of Pan-Africanism
President John Dramani Mahama has issued a forceful call for African nations to revive the spirit of Pan-Africanism, arguing that the continent’s countries cannot achieve meaningful progress in isolation and must instead pursue collective economic leverage through deeper integration.
Speaking at a Town Hall Meeting with Ghanaians in the United Kingdom during the second day of his five-day official visit to London, the President positioned Ghana’s Pan-African credentials as central to the nation’s identity and its foreign policy.
“We have led Africa in a liberation struggle. And under our first president, we pushed for African continental unity. Ghana has been at the forefront of Pan-Africanism, and I must say that we have achieved our pride of place again at the forefront of Pan-Africanism,” Mahama told the gathering.
The President’s remarks come at a time when the continent faces mounting geopolitical and economic pressures. He pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), headquartered in Accra, as a concrete expression of the Pan-African vision. “There’s no way that any African country can achieve the kind of progress that it needs without working with other countries,” he said. “We cannot achieve it in isolation. And that is why we passed the African Continental Free Trade Area so that our people can invest in each other’s countries.”
Mahama, who serves as the African Union Champion for Reparations and Restorative Justice, also used the occasion to highlight progress on the reparations agenda. He recalled that Ghana moved a motion at the United Nations in September describing the transatlantic slave trade as a grievous crime against humanity, a resolution that passed with 123 votes.
“A lot of people believed there was no way they could garner that support, but we did,” he said. “And that has put on record what happened to our ancestors and people of African ancestry.”
The President announced that Ghana will host a major conference in June titled “The Next Steps,” bringing together the Caribbean and people of African descent from across the world to chart the path forward following the UN resolution. “After the UN resolution, what next?” he asked. “We’re bringing the Caribbean and all people of African descent from all over the world to come and discuss what the next steps are.”
On the practical front, Mahama pointed to Ghana’s recently introduced visa-free policy for all African passport holders as a tangible step toward continental integration. “Any African traveling to Ghana does not have to pay for a visa,” he said, adding that the accompanying e-visa system now allows applicants to apply from anywhere in the world without visiting a Ghanaian embassy. “Within 48 hours, the visa will be issued.”
He shared an anecdote about personally pressing the button to issue the first e-visa, which went to a Serbian oil rig worker who subsequently arrived in Accra, travelled to Takoradi, and boarded a helicopter to an offshore rig. “And so that’s an achievement we are all proud of,” Mahama said.
The President’s London visit has been marked by a series of engagements that blend diaspora outreach with economic diplomacy. His call for Pan-Africanism echoes a consistent theme from his recent international appearances, where he has argued that no African country can navigate today’s global challenges in isolation.
“So there’s a time when we must be proud to be Ghanaian, not only because our economy is doing well, but we can see that we are making progress towards the country that our forebears dreamed us to become,” he said.
Image Source: GHANA BUSINESS NEWS
